Despite Abrams’ warning of voter suppression this week, Georgia’s early voting indicates increased Black turnout.
Early voting data suggest that more Black Georgians are voting in the midterms than in 2020, despite Stacey Abrams’ allegations of voter suppression.
According to the US Election Project, 30% of early votes cast in Georgia are Black, up three percentage points from 27% in 2020, while the White vote has stayed consistent at 57% in both years.
Early voting in Georgia has reached 1.4 million, almost doubling the 2018 elections’ total.
Despite Georgia breaking midterm early voting records, Democratic governor candidate Stacey Abrams warned of voter suppression in a news conference earlier this week.
Amid record-breaking turnout in Georgia, Abrams and the White House insist “voter suppression” and “high turnout” can coexist. Democrats have called Georgia’s Republican-passed Election Integrity Act “Jim Crow 2.0.”
Political pundits look to Georgia’s Black populace, a Democratic Party stronghold, for voting trends.
“Probably positive news for Democratic candidates, notably [Raphael] Warnock,” says Dr. Michael McDonald of the US Election Project.
If these numbers drop as election day approaches, Georgia Democrats may be in the “danger zone.”
Georgia’s voter participation has increased despite an early surge that usually dies off. McDonald called it strange.
Georgia is one of four states—North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana—that include race in voter profiles.